No let up to jobs crisis as 284 redundancies a day reported.
Lack of Government jobs plan adding to uncertainty and undermining future growth.
Employment action plan a priority, says ISME.

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Friday 7th May 2010

LIVE REGISTER FIGURES CONFIRM NO ‘LET UP’ IN JOBS CRISIS

ISME slams Government inertia, as dole queues largely unchanged.
Coherent Job Strategy urgently needed to save ‘flagging economy’.

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Friday 30th April 2010.

NEW CARBON TAX WILL COST JOBS

Wrong tax at the wrong time, warns ISME
Anger expressed as gas price increase undermines competitiveness
Association calls on Government to reverse decision.

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Monday 19th April 2010.

ISME RESPONSE TO MAZARS REPORT ON SME LENDING

ISME rubbishes report findings.
No improvement in SME bank lending, contrary to report’s conclusions.
Government action urgently required to ‘free up’ badly needed credit..

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Wednesday 14th April 2010

GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISE POLICY A SICK JOKE

Major survey reveals only 18% of SME owner-managers think the Government is pro-enterprise.
Government policy is mainly directed at Foreign Direct Investment, according to 89% of SMEs.
82% of small businesses confirm the need for Development Agencies, yet only one in four (24%) are currently clients.
ISME calls for a National Enterprise Policy to promote SMEs.

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Friday 9th April 2010

INFLATION

SME competitiveness restricted by increasing State costs.
ISME calls for ‘root and branch’ review of State influenced business costs.

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Wednesday 31st March 2010

RESPONSE TO LIVE REGISTER FIGURES:ISME WARNS OF 60,000 JOBS AT IMMEDIATE RISK IN SME SECTOR

Jobs need to be ‘priority number one’.
Unemployment remains a real and present danger.
Government employment plan urgently required

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Tuesday 30th March 2010.

ISME WELCOMES MINISTER’S COMMITMENT TO FORCE BANKS TO INCREASE SME LENDING

NAMA must be judged on level of SME lending.
ISME calls on Government to honour SME lending commitment.

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Monday 29th March 2010

LATE PAYMENTS DEBACLE CONTINUES AS GOVERNMENT IGNORES PLIGHT OF SMEs

Deterioration in payments means Small Business waiting 76 days average for payment, the longest period on record.
Government ‘dereliction of duty’ on prompt payments is killing Small Business.
Almost half of companies (48%) experiencing payment delays of over three months, the highest on record.
Big business and State sector deliberately delaying payments.

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Friday 26th March 2010

ISME’s FIRST QUARTERLY BUSINESS TRENDS SURVEY SPRING 2010

Improvement in confidence, but business environment viewed as extremely challenging.
The level of job losses slowing, employment growth some way off.
38% expect business conditions to improve.
However, 62% of SMEs concerned about the survival of their business.
Economic uncertainty, reduced orders, access to credit and late payments main worries for owner-managers.
Two-tier economy evident as SMEs lag Multinationals.
Lack of Government SME supports highlighted in comparison to UK and other international competitors.

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Wednesday 24th March 2010

ISME CONCERNED AT DIVISION OF FAS IN CABINET RESHUFFLE

Fear that enterprise training and upskilling policy will be ‘watered down’.
Disappointment that more emphasis not placed on enterprise and job creation.
Further delays in redundancy rebates expected as responsibility transferred to Department of Social Protection.

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Monday 22nd March 2010

ISME DEMANDS CREATION OF MINISTRY FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Neglected sector deserves Government recognition.
Parity of esteem required with FDI sector.
Sustainable Jobs growth through SME sector needs stimulus.

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Monday 15th March 2010

NAMA WILL NOT INCREASE LENDING, SAYS ISME

Only one in ten (10%) of SMEs believe NAMA will make a positive difference to lending.
Banks making it more difficult to access credit according to 80% of companies.
Direct Government intervention urgently required to free up badly needed credit.

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Thursday 11th March 2010

ISME SLAMS MANDATORY PENSION PROPOSAL

Inflation figures ‘mask’ rising State influenced business costs.
Competitiveness continues to be undermined by ‘out of touch’ Government.’
ISME calls for a benchmarking review to compare business costs with our trading competitors.

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Thursday 4th March 2010

ISME SLAMS MANDATORY PENSION PROPOSAL

Huge concern at additional cost to employers.
ISME calls on Government to rethink ‘unworkable’ pension policy.

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Thursday 4th March 2010

GOVERNMENT ACTION REQUIRED TO ADDRESS ‘WORRYING’ REDUNDANCY FIGURES

309 redundancies a day, as Government ignores employment crisis.
National Employment Emergency Plan urgently required.

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Wednesday 3rd March 2010

ISME WARNS OF COMPLACENCY WITH REGARD TO LATEST LIVE REGISTER FIGURES

Reports of stabilisation in the labour market ‘off the mark’..
Jobs crisis as ‘bad as ever’
Government inertia adding to jobs woe.
National Employment Emergency Plan urgently required..

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Monday 1st March 2010

ISME REPORTS A DETERIORATION IN SME BANK LENDING

Clear evidence that Banks have ‘shut up shop’.
Over half of businesses (55%), were refused funding.
Business closures and job losses directly linked to lack of credit.
Government intervention required to save thousands of businesses.

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Thursday 11th February 2010

INFLATION

SME competitiveness being undermined by rise in Government influenced costs.
Government must put same effort into reducing business costs as they did in bailing out errant bankers and property developers.

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Wednesday 10th February 2010

ISME CALLS FOR MORE URGENCY IN INTRODUCTION OF THIRD BANKING FORCE

Association extremely concerned at closure of Halifax Branches
Ominous signs for future competition.
Concern at increase in bank charges.

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Wednesday 3rd February 2010

LIVE REGISTER: ISME CALLS FOR JOBS ‘THINK TANK’ TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS LABOUR CRISIS

Government inaction a serious concern.
Little improvement in sight as labour market ‘crumbles’.
Jobs ‘think tank’ only way out of current crisis

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Tuesday 2nd February 2010

‘DIRE’ REDUNDANCY FIGURES CONFIRM ONGOING THREAT TO ECONOMY

Bad start to year as figures highlight no let up in job losses.
335 redundancies a day, as Government procrastinates.
Paralysis of ideas by Government delaying economic growth

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Wednesday 20th January 2010

ISME SLAMS ‘DESPICABLE’ AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS’ WORK STOPPAGE

Action sends message that Ireland is closed for business.
IScurrilous attempt to sabotage the economy.

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Thursday 14th January 20100

BUSINESS STILL SUFFERING EXCESSSIVE COSTS
AS NEGATIVE INFLATION CONTINUES

Government policy and lack of realism continuing to undermine competitiveness.
Immediate review of all State Influenced Business Costs required.

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Friday 8th January 2010

‘HORRENDOUS’ LIVE REGISTER FIGURES SHOULD SHOCK GOVERNMENT INTO ACTION

46% increase over last 12 months.
Lack of Government action contributing to thousands of job losses.
Small businesses feel betrayed by Government inertia.
Company closures and further job losses on the horizon, particularly in first quarter.

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Thursday 7th January 2010

URGENT GOVERNMENT ACTION REQUIRED TO ADDRESS JOBS CRISIS

Highest ever Redundancy figures announced.
In excess of 300 redundancies a day.
Further job losses anticipated as SME sector remains in ‘crisis mode’.
ISME calls for expansion of Employment Subsidy Scheme.

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Wednesday 6th January 2010

IISME WELCOMES REDUCTION IN GAS PRICES

Slight respite for businesses suffering from exorbitant energy costs.
ISME calls for speeding up of deregulation of electricity market to reduce costs in that area.